Sen. Helming Urges Parole Board to Deny Early Release of Heinous Murderer

GENEVA – Senator Pam Helming today announced that she has sent a letter to the New York State Parole Board opposing the early release of murderer Chad A. Campbell and demanding that he be kept in prison for the entire length of his life sentence. Campell is serving a maximum sentence of life in prison at Woodbourne Correctional Facility for the murder of his teenage classmate and the toddler boy she was babysitting. He is eligible for parole in May.

In August 1990, Campbell – then 14 years old – brutally stabbed to death his 15-year-old Palmyra-Macedon Central School classmate, Cindy Lewis, and the 17-month-old boy she was babysitting, Curtis Rizzo. Though he has been eligible for parole since 2008, Campbell has been denied an early release five times because he has shown no remorse for his horrific actions that caused irreparable harm to the Palmyra-Macedon community where he committed this terrible violence and unspeakable anguish to the family and friends of those he murdered. Instead, he chooses to blame his upbringing for the heinous crime he committed rather than take responsibility for his own actions.

“Cindy Lewis and Curtis Rizzo were not allowed the chance to live out the full potential of their lives, so why should Chad Campbell be given that opportunity? Even if he does one day decide to take responsibility and show remorse for this heinous crime, he does not deserve the opportunity to lead a fulfilling, rewarding life within our community. His victims did not, and he should not. I urge the members of the parole board not to grant parole to Chad Campbell – not now and not ever,” Senator Helming said.

Senator Helming has worked with Ms. Elaine Hartnagel, Curtis Rizzo’s grandmother, to advocate that Campbell remain in prison and to support bills in the State Senate that would help victims and their families during parole board hearings. One measure (S.2997-A) would lengthen the time between parole hearings from two years to five years. This would give grieving families a greater period of peace before having to relive their tragedies while testifying at the next hearing. Another measure (S.6200) would allow all family members and interested parties to make statements during hearings in order to create a more open and fair process for victims’ families and all those affected by the crime.

“The weeks and months leading up to each parole hearing always places additional stress on our family knowing that one day Curtis’ and Cindy’s murderer could possibly be let free. It also forces us to relive the heartbreak and devastation we felt the day we heard my grandson had been brutally murdered.  I will continue to do all I can to make sure this monster never sees a day outside prison walls. I thank Senator Helming for joining me in this fight and for supporting legislation to honor Curtis’ memory by creating a more open process that allows families like mine to be heard,” said Elaine Hartnagel, grandmother to Curtis Rizzo.

Both of these bills passed the Senate with wide bipartisan support last year and were re-introduced for this year’s legislative session. Senator Helming is a co-sponsor on both pieces of legislation.

“I have seen and heard firsthand the pain and suffering that Ms. Hartnagel and her family still feel over the tremendous loss of her grandson and his babysitter – lives that were cut tragically short 28 years ago. Ms. Hartnagel and her family bear the burden of reliving their real-life nightmare every two years by testifying to ensure that Chad Campbell is never released into society. Critical legislation would give families five years of reprieve before having to relive their tragedy at the next parole board hearing, and would give them a chance to state their opinions and feelings at the hearing, as grandparents and others are currently excluded from making statements to the parole board. It is an outrage that grandparents, like Ms. Hartnagel, currently do not have the right to testify. The law must be amended to extend the definition of family to include grandparents. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to pass these two measures this year, and I call on our Assembly colleagues to pass these bills as well so that we can bring justice to victims and their families,” Senator Helming said.

Senator Helming represents the 54^th Senate District, which consists of Seneca and Wayne Counties, parts of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, and the towns of Lansing and Webster. For more information, please visit Senator Helming’s website, or follow @SenatorHelming on Facebook or Twitter.

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